| Years: | 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030 |
| Element: | Earth |
| Yin or Yang: | Yang |
| Lucky Colours: | Green, Red, Purple |
| Lucky Numbers: | 3, 4, 9 |
| Crystal: | Diamond |
| Flower: | Rose |
| Characteristics: | Loyal, Honest, Friendly, Responsible |
The Legend of the Dog
The eleventh sign of the Chinese zodiac is occupied by the loyal, honest, and faithful Dog.
In the original legend of the Chinese zodiac race, where twelve animals competed for a spot in the Jade Emperor’s calendar year, the Dog, with his excellent sense of smell to track shortcuts and his fast legs, seemed certain to claim one of the top spots.
However, as the Dog raced along, he couldn’t help but look back to see how his competitors were doing. Off whizzed the Tiger, Rabbit, and Monkey, but the Dog halted in his tracks when he saw one creature stumbling, gasping, and puffing, lagging far behind everybody else.
It was the Pig. Unfortunately, the Pig was nowhere near as fast or active as the other animals, and no matter how hard he tried, he simply couldn’t keep up with them.
Seeing the look of despair on the Pig’s face and that he looked close to collapse, the Dog turned around and bounded back, racing to the Pig’s side.
“Come on!” the Dog urged him. “You can do it!”
“I can’t!” gasped the poor Pig. “I’m too slow. I had better just quit.”
“No, don’t quit!” said the Dog, nudging the Pig forward. “Come on – I’ll help you to the finishing line!”
The Dog and the Pig spent the rest of the race running together, with the Dog’s constant yips of encouragement and motivation to the Pig. Every time the Pig thought he was going to give up, the Dog offered words of comfort and kept him going. He had forgotten about his own spot in the race, and all that mattered now was making sure the Pig crossed the finishing line too.
Eventually, the Dog and the Pig made it to the end. The Dog went just before the Pig, and the Pig followed shortly after. The Jade Emperor looked at the Dog, smiling at him.
“You are a good friend,” he said as the Dog wagged his tail and bounded off to take eleventh place in the race.
Year of the Dog Personality Traits
The most loyal and faithful sign of the Chinese zodiac, Dogs are also considered to be the most likable. They epitomize truth, justice, and equality, and they are renowned for their desire to right the wrongs of the world and make the world a better, fairer place for all.
Anyone who has a Chinese zodiac Dog as a friend is indeed a lucky individual. A Dog would never leave a friend in the lurch and will always be there in times of trouble. It doesn’t matter if the one in crisis is on the other side of the world or if the Dog had an important event scheduled. As soon as a Dog gets word of a loved one in trouble, they drop everything to be by their side and help them out of their mess.
Dogs are the true altruists of the Chinese zodiac. Their selfless, giving nature is much admired and respected by all.
Dogs believe in unconditional love and spreading joy through the simpler things in life. But because Dogs have a deep-rooted need for justice and fairness, life is rarely simple for them. There is always a battle to fight, a cause to uphold.
They are fiercely protective of those they love and have been known to bite when loved ones are under attack! They do not, however, look for fights but instead observe their surroundings, acting only when necessary. They believe in protecting the general well-being of the public and society, and this is why many Dogs end up in law enforcement.
Dogs can be prone to over-thinking, worrying, and paranoia. This can lead to imagining worst-case scenarios or sleepless nights, wondering whether change will ever come at all.
They can also be prone to anger, barking furiously at people when they see wrong-doing taking place. If they become angry with loved ones, the anger usually rises quickly and drops just as suddenly. Such anger is rarely out of malice, though, and can almost always be justified.
Chinese zodiac Dogs see things in black and white and tend not to take notice of the grey areas. You are either good or bad, a friend or an enemy to the Dog of the Chinese zodiac. This usually means keeping others at arm’s length until the Dog has decided they are trustworthy. Once passed the rigorous screening process, however, Dogs are friends for life. The Dog takes loyalty seriously and upholds a knight’s code of honor when it comes to sticking by friends and setting off to face the enemy together.
The Dog is very matter-of-fact and can be very obstinate if they feel someone is trying to change their mind about something they have already decided upon. Typically, pressing the Dog to change course will result only in even greater stubbornness.
Though they can be quarrelsome at times, there is no real malice or nastiness in their character, for the Dog’s primary motivation is to help, not hinder.
Just like the Dog in the Chinese zodiac legend, the Dog person will always put others before themselves if it means doing the right thing.
A true friend, a loyal ally, and a trustworthy defender of the people, the Dog is a noble individual who epitomizes the term Man’s Best Friend!
Dogs & Love
Dog people are usually very attractive and tend to ooze sex appeal. And overall, Chinese zodiac Dogs are faithful and loving when it comes to love.
They can be prone to excessive worrying in relationships and may have very high standards for their mate, but providing the object of their affections strives towards these ideals, then it will be a very happy relationship indeed.
Male Dogs
The male Dog may have a rugged sort of look about him; many like to work out to keep themselves strong and robust. The females are equally enchanting with an expressive sort of beauty. Chinese zodiac Dogs of any and all genders tend to have many admirers.
A Dog male is the most likely of all the signs to stick with someone even if the relationship is challenging. The Dog believes that once he is committed, he is duty-bound to see things through till the end.
Dog males make loyal and faithful partners; if they do stray, you can be sure that it is because they feel truly miserable and trapped.
Dog Females
Dog females are likewise loyal and loving companions. They prefer a partner who can help them right the wrongs of society – and of themselves! If a Dog female feels that she needs to work on herself in some way, then she expects her partner to stick by her through thick and thin. After all, she would do exactly the same for them if the shoe was on the other foot.
Dog Love Compatibility
The Dog is part of the Third Trine in the Chinese zodiac, a trine known for their pursuit of humanitarian causes. As such, the Dog will be most compatible with the other animals in this trine, which are the Tiger and Horse.
These signs bring out the best in each other due to mutual understanding.
The Tiger and Dog make an excellent pair; the Tiger values the Dog’s loyalty and trustworthiness, while the Dog is able to soothe the Tiger’s ego when wounded and protect her when her sensitivity has been wounded.
The Dog equally makes a good partner with the Horse. The Dog will help provide grounding and stability to the flighty Horse, while the Horse will admire the Dog’s sense of fairness.
The Dog will also have a special affinity with the Pig, who will adore them for their protective and loyal streak, while the Dog will be in awe of the Pig’s ability to trust others without suspicion or reservation.
The Dog of the Chinese zodiac is least compatible with the Dragon.
In the Circle of Conflict, the Dog and Dragon stand on opposite sides of one another. These two signs have trouble trusting one another, and a very suspicious relationship may ensue if they got together (unless there is an animal-friendly ascendant). Because they are so different, they have trouble relaxing in each other’s company, and their motives of each other will often be questioned, sometimes to the extreme. A match is not advised.
Dogs & Career
Because of their protective and humanitarian nature, Dogs are best suited to roles where they can put these qualities to good use.
Law enforcement, such as police forces or the armed forces, usually suits them well.
They would also thrive in charity-based roles. Similarly, they do very well in religious or spirituality-based roles. Chinese zodiac Dogs also make very good doctors and nurses, as these roles allow them to look after people on a more proactive level.
In addition, interviewing for radio and television also suits them, particularly if they are engaged in a specific cause that they believe in. They also enjoy acting, and those who do turn to performing will often use their platform to highlight causes that are dear to them.
Dogs & Money
Dogs do not care much for money, but if they are in need of it, they have the resources necessary to acquire it.
Money is not a motivator for the Dog— justice is.
Sometimes, money will be a nice added bonus if a dog decides to pursue a job as a lawyer, for example. Dogs are not lavish spenders, but they will not hesitate to use their money if it means helping someone or putting it towards a worthy cause.
Dogs tend to be quite fortunate. In many cases, they are born into good families. If they are not, they will usually succeed in their chosen profession. Because they are not materialistic, this is the sign that is most likely to end up in a role that prioritizes well-being and equality over monetary gain.
The Dog Through The Elements
Metal Dog
1970, 2030
Metal gives the Chinese zodiac Dog an aura of formidability—this is not a Dog to trifle with!
The Metal Dog is a big critic of anything in the law that does not appear to be upholding the values of fairness and justice. They tend to have extremely high and solid morals and will very often dedicate themselves to a cause, remaining in it until death if necessary.
Believers in Tibet actually call the Year of the Metal Dog the “Iron Dog,” and it could be a very good year for some and a terrible one for others, depending on which side of the spectrum you are on.
The Metal Dog usually has excellent self-discipline and will not hesitate to lead an army against the forces of darkness if that is what it takes to put wrong to right. An intense element paired with an intense sign, if the Metal Dog feels there is a serious lack of fairness at play, they will not hesitate to resort to their own extreme measures to level the playing field.
Water Dog
1922, 1982
Water bestows this Dog with great intuition. There is also an ethereal sort of beauty about them: the men are often devastatingly beautiful, and the women are drop-dead gorgeous.
The Water Dog is more willing to listen to the opinions of others than any of the other Dogs, even after they have made their mind up.
The Water Dog of the Chinese zodiac does not hold others to such high standards as his elemental counterparts may but will still uphold the typical Dog values of justice and equality. This Dog is very good at controlling their emotions, and people will enjoy being in their company; hence, the Water Dog will often have many friends.
Wood Dog
1934, 1994
The Wood Dog of the Chinese zodiac is very warm-hearted and will be the first to offer someone the shirt off his back if they were cold and hungry. The most altruistic of all the Dogs, this is an honest character who likes the simple life but will still speak vociferously on things they don’t agree with.
The Wood Dog likes money more than the other Dogs but is still not prone to materialism.
They are generous individuals and like working in groups. Wood Dogs do not like to be alone and are pack animals. Solitary confinement of any kind brings them great sadness and loneliness, though they may often try and abate this by having pets—usually, appropriately, dogs!
Fire Dog
1946, 2006
The Fire Dog of the Chinese zodiac is never short of admirers and enjoys being in the limelight. They have dramatic, exuberant personalities and tend to be the life and soul of any party. But, they are very careful not to compromise their integrity, and this Chinese zodiac Dog often gravitates away from social circles where they feel their values may be challenged.
If the Fire Dog is under attack, they can react very viciously. It is not advisable to start a war with this individual.
They are wonderful at inspiring others and can very often be found heading their own organizations and charities in a bid to combat the evils of the world. This Dog has very strong willpower and will attract people from all walks of life because of their relentless tenacity.
Earth Dog
1958, 2018
The Earth Dog of the Chinese zodiac likes to work behind the scenes and offer words of wisdom rather than launching all-out attacks.
Earth makes this Chinese zodiac Dog particularly cautious, and Dogs of this breed will assess situations carefully before getting involved. Often, they may decide it is better to stand on the sidelines and watch, but if they view unjust or unfair behavior, they will be quick to get involved.
The Earth Dog is the wisest of all the Chinese zodiac Dogs and can usually intuit what others need to hear. Because of this, they make wonderful friends and companions, particularly in times of heartbreak.
This Dog keeps a moderate take on themselves, remaining humble while applauding victories. Balanced and measured, Earth Dogs often find success due to the honesty and integrity they share with the world.
Famous People Born In The Year Of The Dog
- Sir Winston Churchill
- Brigitte Bardot
- Sophia Loren
- Elvis Presley
- Mother Theresa
- Voltaire
- David Bowie
- Cher
- Prince William
- Freddie Mercury
- River Phoenix
- Dakota Fanning
- Maggie Smith
- Alan Rickman
- Rachel Weisz
- Nicki Minaj
- Justin Bieber
- Madonna
- Matt Damon
- Queen Latifah